- Teacher dies in kidnappers den
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) provided details on how soldiers rescued 137 out of the 287 kidnapped pupils of Kuriga Primary School in Kaduna State. According to Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, the rescue operation was conducted in coordination with local authorities and government agencies across the country.
The rescue, which took place in the early hours of March 24, 2024, involved a concerted effort by the military to locate and liberate the hostages. The rescued individuals, comprising 76 females and 61 males, were found in Zamfara State. They will be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
The abduction occurred on March 7, 2024, when terrorists invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Since then, the military has been committed to ensuring the safe return of all hostages.
In addition to the Kuriga schoolchildren, troops had previously rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) and a woman who were taken hostage in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State on March 21, 2024. These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government.
The statement reaffirmed the armed forces’ determination to locate and rescue other innocent hostages while tracking down the terrorists responsible for such crimes. Similar efforts are being made to apprehend those responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community, Delta State.
The DHQ emphasized that justice awaits the perpetrators, as they will be arrested, tried, and brought to justice according to Nigerian law. The armed forces remain resolute in their commitment to safeguarding the nation’s citizens and ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous acts face the full consequences of their actions.
Meanwhile The Kaduna state government has disclosed that a teacher who was kidnapped alongside 287 pupils of the Government Secondary and Primary Schools, Kuriga 1, Chikun LGA of the state, did not make it back.
The state government and the Defence Headquarters earlier on Sunday announced the release of the kidnapped school children.
The school children abducted in Kaduna on March 7, 2024, were rescued in Zamfara State.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunday’s Politics programme on Sunday night, Governor Sani said the school children were already in Kaduna and “in high spirits”.
However, regarding the teacher, the governor said, “Sadly one person has not returned and that is the teacher. That is the fact of the matter but all the 137 children are safely back.
“We had an unfortunate incident where a teacher couldn’t make it. He had some complications, he was sick. That was the report we got from the military but the rest of the children, all of them are back home safely, they are with us.”
